Familiar foe

Suntory are one of the traditional powerhouses of Japanese domestic rugby

England assistant coach Neal Hatley was part of a fact-finding mission, spending time with Tokyo club Suntory Sungoliath recently, and he believes Japan will test the hosts in new ways.

"We are expecting them to be fast and physical," he told BBC 5 Live.

"The trip was very enlightening.

"I was impressed. The standard of the Japanese players was exceptional, and their attitude to work was first-class."

Jones coached Japan for three years, standing down in the wake of the 2015 World Cup, at which the Brave Blossoms beat Samoa, the United States and, famously, South Africa.

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'Desire, pace, power' - Jones on England debutant Cokanasiga

Jones is half-Japanese and has a Japanese wife, but says he will not be distracted from the task in hand. Earlier in the week he suggested that Japan should "pray, pray, pray" in preparation for meeting an "absolutely ruthless" England.

"The emotional connection doesn't disappear but I've never, by nationality, called myself Japanese because I was brought up as an Australian," said Jones.

"Japan was part of our family, and obviously marrying a Japanese, having a dog that only speaks Japanese, it's a big part of the family.

"But this is a serious Test match and you don't allow those things to cloud your thoughts."

'If it happens, great, if not, I won't lose sleep'

Maro Itoje lifts the World Junior Championship in 2014 after England under-20s win over their South African counterparts

Maro Itoje captained England under-20s to victory in the 2014 Junior World Championship final and the 24-year-old has been named vice-captain for the first time for Saturday, supporting skipper George Ford.

"Not really to be honest!" he said, when asked if it was a surprise.

"Hopefully that doesn't sound arrogant or anything. I have been part of the leadership group of this squad for a little while now. Once I got an idea of that the team was going to look like, this may have been a possibility.

"My goal is about being part of extremely successful sides. My role within that, I don't mind. If the England captaincy happens one day great, if it doesn't it is not something I will lose sleep over."